Leadership, Race, and Equity: Understanding the Flint Water Crisis.

Leadership decisions have consequences. Sometimes deadly consequences.

This is what is examined in a riveting film by U.K. filmmaker Anthony Baxter who’s documentary film “Flint: Who Can You Trust?” chronicles a series of poor leadership decisions that led to a cascade of problems for the city of Flint, Michigan and its residents, over a span of five years. The film, which was screened at Chicago’s One Earth Film Festival earlier this month, spawned series of broad community discussions about leadership, race, science and the environment.

OVP Management Consulting Group, Inc. had the good fortune of being able to facilitate one such discussion with Mr. Baxter, columnist with Mother Jones Magazine Nathalie Baptiste and water activist and Flint resident Nakiya Wakes this month.

One of the most significant issues that came to the surface during our hour-long talk was the role that leadership plays in being able to address complex problems facing communities and organizations. The documentary highlighted the disparities that exists between well-resourced communities seeking to make changes and resource-strapped communities that often are at the mercy of larger forces. These disparities laid bare the importance of equitable leadership and how it can help organizations and people make better decisions.

We would encourage our clients and partners to watch the film. It offers a great example of how poor decision-making can result in catastrophic outcomes for organizations of all kinds.

Watch the panel discussion here.